Well tool and joint



Oct. 7, 1930.

I. THOMAS WELL TOOL AND JOINT Filed June 24, 1929' gwumtov Idris Thomas Patented oot. 7, 1930 UNITED T TES A NT O IDRIS THOMAS, or WHITTIER, cnmronnrmnssrenon or oN E-HALn'ronn NEsrrr. winner, on nnnrrneron PARK, CALIFORNIA wnIlL TO L Application filed lune 24,

Thisinvention relates to' deep well tools and the principles involved in the construction of the device enable it to'have a wide rangeof usefulness in deep well tools Features. of the invention can be adapted to fish 'ing tools and'to produce adrill string joint of a safety type which can be released at will. a V l The general object of the invention is to produce a device'of this nature having ex paneling slips controlled in such away that when theslips are being set in a fish they can readily be released or expanded by rotation of-the drill string, and also to provide means whereby, at will, the slips can be rotated with the casing of the tool.

A further object of the invention is to provide ,a simple construction for atool or tool joint of this kind in which the tapered slips are carried on mandrel which may have in dependent rotation of the slips, when'desired, to expand or contract thenn' but which is so constructed as to enable the mandrel and slips to be rotatable in unison, when desired.

iii One of the objects of the invention is to provide a tool of this type which can be constructed so as'to operate as a tap to out its own thread in a twisted off casing or the like. A further object of the invention'is to provide an improved construction adaptable for embodiment in aback-01f tool Further objects of the invention will appear hereinafteri v j The invention consists in the novel parts I and combination of parts to be described hereinafter, all of which contribute to produce an efficient well tool and joint.

A preferred embodiment oft-he invention is described in the following specification,

while the broad scope of the invention is pointedout in the appended claims.

in the drawing: a

Figure 1 is a vertical section and partial elevation of a deep well tool embodying my invention.

Figure 2 is a perspective ofone of the slips which constitute a feature of theinvention.

Figure 3 is a cross-section taken on the line et 3-3 ofFigure l, looking downward, --and AND oint 1529. Serial 1%. 373,137.

particularly illustrating relation of the mandrel and slips: i i v 1 Figure 4 is a viewsimilar to Figure 3, but looking upward;

Figure 5 is aside elevation in partial sec;

of this view is broken away. i

Figure 6 is'a cross-section illustrating the construction of the tool when it is adapted to be employed as a tap or die forcutting its own thread in the end of a twisted oli casing or the like. a, i l p Beforeproceeding to a detailed description of the parts of the device,it=sho'uld be-sta'ted that in its general construction the tool or 7 joint includes a casing having means above for attaching the same to a drill string, The casing carries a mandrel which supports eX- pansible' and contractible slips,'the construetion being such that, when the mandrel is rotated, eccentric faces upon it, operate to expander contract the slips, depending upon the direction of-relative rotation. In addition to this, the casing and slips are'so constructed that the casing may be brought into direct contact with the slips so that rotation of thecas'ing can beimparted tothe slips.

These "features are very] useful in a' tool or joint of-this kind andenablethe" tool to be re'adily'; disconnected from atlost casing or drill string which is being fished forin a-well.

One ofthe features of the invention consists in a limited-longitudinal relative movement between the mandrel and the casing, which movement is utilized to enable the casing to rotate the mandrel' relative to the slips, orto come directly into engagement with the slips so as to -rotate them directly by the casing. Thes'e'features of the invention enable it to be adapted very readily for embodiment in back off tools, fishingtools,'or a special safetyjoint for drill strings which can be relied onto release itself if the tool string is properly manipulated atthe mouth of the well. i

Referring'more particularly to the parts and especially to Figures lto 4, which illustratean embodiment of the invention adapted to'perform the functions of a back-off tool or fishing tool, 1 represents the casing of the tool, which is preferably of tubular form. From the lower end of the casing a mandrel 2 extends downwardly, said mandrel being mounted in the casing for rotation-by the easing and so that it is capable of a limited longitudinal movement within the casing. For this purpose the upper end of the body of the mandrel is formed with a threaded shank 3 passing through" an annular collar l formed within the casing and in a positionftobe en.- gaged by the lower end of a cap-nut 5 that screws down on the threaded end of the shank. The mandrel has a construction which will enable the casing to rotate it. For this purpose a key may be employed, but I prefer to construct the mandrel with an angular body 6. This body maybe ofhexagonalform' and constructed integral with the shank 3j-and integral with the lower portion7 of the mandrel, which maybe untapered, but is preferably tapered. The lower portion of the mandrel is connected by a reduced neck 8 to the upper portion. The shank 3 is of smaller diameter than the hexagonal body 6 so that a shoulder 9 is formed at the upper end of the body, and this shoulder islocated below the lower-face of the collar 4 when the mandrel. being supported on the upper face of the collar on the cap-nut 5', p In other Words, the cap nut 5 and the shoulder9 limit the longitudinal movement of the mandreland the casing 1 with respect toeachothen r "The tapered portlon 7 o the mandrel'is con structed so as to carry a plurality of slips 10. There maybe asmany of these slips as desired. In the present instan'cel have illustrated two slips, which 'areiof ar-cuate form and tapered in a circumferential direction (see Figure 3). Thesefslips seat upon cir cumferentially disposedcam faces 11 formed on the tapered portion 7 The bodies 12 of the slips, are tapered in their radius: so that they virtually form two shells which-copperate to produce a collapsible; pinlii, the said slips being preferably provided on their outer faces with threads 14- which wouldfbe. standard threads fora regular pin of'that diameter and taper. e

The upper portion of each. slip is formed into a relativelyheavy collar 15 and this collar is undercut onits-inner face (see Figure 2) to r-form' an arcuate shoulder '16 that engages over a corresponding shoulder lTformed at the upper end of the tapered portion of the mandrel by reason of the reduced diameter of the neck 8. The lower end of the casing "projects over the upper end of the collar 15 so as to retain the slips and prevent their falling outwardly.

The lowerrends of the slips are preferably retained by means-of an integral button or head 181fonned on the lower end of the man drelfandhaving a deepzin'clined annular groove 19 atits upper edge which receives "will be projected outwardly, due to the action of the cam faces 11. This action facilitates the use of the tool inv order to make a connection with an open tapered box of the same diameter and taper as the pin 13 formed by the slips, and it also enables'the pin to as introduced into the end of an open casing within a well and then expanded so as cause the threads 14- to take hold of the mouth otthe tubing. 'lfVhen the. slips are introduced into threaded box of the same :-itch and thread, a very secure connection can be formed with the threads of the box by'expanding the slips inv the box. Having made such a connection to a lost drill string or tubing, this tool can be used as a back-oil tool by rotating it in the proper direction to unscrew the lost tubing to which the tool has been secured. If the tubing to be backed oli has right-hand thread, of course left hand thread should be usedin the string carrying the tool. The character of the cam faces illustrated-in Figure performing this function. V V The tool is constructed so that, at will, the slips can berotated with the casing 1 instead of being permitted to be relatively stationary when the casing is rotated. In order to accomplish this, I utilize the relative longitudinal v, shifting movement oi? the mandrel within the casing and I provide the casing and the slips with engaging faces 23 and 24, respectively, which may come together if the casing is lowered down onto the slips. This movement may be merely a motion of translation without'rotation; that is to say, rota-- tion is unnecessary in effecting the connec tion. With the casing 1 lowered down onto the slips in 'this way, it will be evident that the rotation of the casing can be imparted directly to the slips. This rotation will onable the slips to be unscrewed from a box in which they maybe anchored, and would also enable them to be unscrewed from open tubing within a well.

On account of the high 'frictionthat would be developed between the faces 23 and 24-, it may not. be necessary to provide any interlocking means to insure a positive connection between the casing and the slips to effect the rotation of the slips by the casing. However, for this purpose I prefer to provide a suitable interlocking connection which may adapts the tool for consist of notches I 25 formed at different points around the periphery ofthe slips which will co per-ate with tapered tongues 26, respectively, which project down from the lower end of the casing (see Figure 1);

In employing this invention in the construction of a safety joint, to be used'in a drill string, the construction is substantially the same as that described above and illustiated in Figure 1 except that the tongues 26 1 3 formed by the slips would be screwed into the box of the drill string section, with the mandrel in a position to maintain the slips Kpanded to the diameter of the box. With ind notches 25would be omitted. The pin this arrangement, evidently by pulling upon the casing 1 and "rotating itin theproper direction, the cam faces 11 would cause the release of the slips. By employing joints of: this type at spaced intervals in a drill string, such joints could be madeto release themselves, whendesired, to facilitate the pulling of the drill string. i

In F igure 5 I illustrate an embodiment: r-f theinvention in which I do not employ connection with Figure 1 except that, if desired, instead of employing threads 14, I may provide the slips'with wickers 29 such as illustrated.

By employing slips oi anabn'ormal construction, the tool imay be transformed. into a thread-cuttingtap or'die, adapted to cut i its way into the openendofa lost casing or drill string. This is illustrated in Figure 6,

which is a cross-section through the tapered portion of such a tool. In. this View 30 represents the tapered portion of the tool formed with two driving shoulders 31 corresponding to the shoulders 21 oil? Figure These driving shoulders drive arcuate' 9 U, slips 32 whichxare virtuallycuttingcdies having projecting cuttingshoulders 33 on the side of the tool opposite the. shoulder 31 that drives that slip. It is evident that a toolfof this kind, when introduced into an open tube or lost casing, can out itsown, way into the wall ofthe lost caslngand when it has been rotated sutlicientlv to engage suiiicient metal in the wall, then the lost casing can be pulled.

To describe briefly the mode ofoperation and uses of thetool it should be understood that one important use would be that of a back-oil tool. For eXample,:in backing oil lost drill string having a right-hand thread, the thread on the collapsible pin or slips of the tool wouldbe right-handtoht the boirof the lost drill string.) The thread I: on' thejtoolstring would,"of course, be le'l't- I hand as also would be the thread ti lat the In backingofi',the*slips forming the collapsible' pin 13 would be inserted in theybox of the lost drillstring and rotated in a righthand directionto seat the pin easily in the box. In doing this, the threads on theslips would .co-operate" with the corresponding standard threads in the box. In seating the slips in the threads in this way, the weight of the casing 1 on the upper end of the slips would rotate them-into the box. After they are seated in the box, the tool string should be pulled up slightly andthen rotated slightly to the left to get the cam action of the cam faces 11 to lock the'slips in the boX'.

By reason of this cam action, it is not necestightening the slips in the box, will unscrew one or more sections ofthe lost drill string. If

sary that the threads on the slips should string in an anti clockwise direction, 'after The casing 1 has meansfor encircling the V slips in any pos1t1on they can assume. 'In I the presentinstance this 3 function is performed by the lower end of'the casing which always encircles the collars at the upper ends fi of the slips. i

The neck 18 maybe of cylindrical form,"

but I prefer to give it cam faces similarto the camfaces 11 of the tapered portion of the mandrel. When thisis done, of course,

the cam faces on the neck 8 should be inthe same relative position'as the cam faceson shoulders 21 on the"tapered portionshould be carried right the neck 8.

It is understood that the embodiment of ine the -tapered portion, in other words, the v up through the length of the invention described herein isonly one of i the many embodimentsthis, invention may take, and I do notwish to be limited in the practice oftheinvention, nor in the claims,

to the particular embodiment .set forth. .What I claim is: V I a attaching the same to a tool string, a mandrel. extending down from the casing,slips carried on the mandrel, said mandrel having eccentric faces operating to'project the slips outwardly when a relative rotation occurs between the mandrel and the slips, said mandrel and said casing being capable of a 1. In a deep well tool, the combination of a casing having means at its upper end for limited relative longitudinal movement and having faces capable of engaging when the casing is lowered toenable the casing to rotate the slips. 7 i

2. In. a deep well tool," the combination of a casing having means at its upper end for attaching-the same toa tool string, a man drel extending down from the casing, slips In a deep well t 01, the combination of a casing having means at its upper end for at- .taching the same to a tool string, a mandrel extending down from the casing, slips'carried on the mandrel, said mandrel having eccentric faces operating to project the slips outwardly when a. relative rotation occurs be tween themandrel and the slips, said mandrel having means for supporting said slips and said casing having means for retaining the slips on the mandrel in any position-they can assume, but permitting a limited radial movement of the slips with respect to the axis of the mandrel,-said mandrel and casing being capable of a' limited relative longitudinal movement and having faces capable of engaging when the casing is lowered witli-respect to the mandrel, to enable the casing to rotate the slips. Y i

4, In a deep well tool,the combination of a casing having means at its upper end for attaching the same to a tool string, a mandrel extending down from the casing, slips carried on the mandrel, said mandrelhav'ing eccen tric faces operating to project'the slipsout Wardly when a, relative rotation occurs be-.

, tween the mandrel and the slips, said'mandrel and said casing being capable of a limited relative longitudinal movement, the lover,

endvof said casing and the upper end of the slips having interlocking means operating to engage whenthe casing is shifted clownwardly relatively to the slips to enable the. casing to rotate the slips.- 5. In a deep well tool, the combination of acasing having means at its upper end for attaching the. same to a tool string, a mandrel mounted in the casing for limited longitudiinal movement inthe casing and capable of being rotated by the casing, said mandrel having a tapered lowerportio'nanda reduced neck above the tapered portion whereby a supporting shoulder is formed, arcuate slips carried on the tapered portion of the mandrel and engaging over said shoulder, the ta ered portion or said mandrel having eccentric faces operating to project the slips outward ly when a relative rotation occurs between the mandrel and the slips, the said casing and the slips having faces operating to engage when the casing is lowered withfrelation to the slips to enable'the casing to rotate the slips. 7 v I 6. .i In a deep well tool, the'combination of a casing having means at its upper end for attaching the same to a tool string, a mandrel mounted in the casing for limited longitudinal movement in the casing and capable of being rotated by the casing, said mandrel having a tapered lower portion and a reduced neck above the tapered portion whereby a supporting shoulder is formed, arcuate slips carried on the tapered portion of the mandrel and engaging over said shoulder, the tapered portion of said mandrel having eccentric faces operating to project the slips outwardly when a relative rotation occurs between the mandrel and the slips, the said casing and the slips having faces operating to engage when the casing is shifted downward with relation to the slips to enable the casing to rotate the slips, the lower end ofthe tapered portion of said mandrel having means for retaining the lower ends of the slips.

I a 7. In a deep well tool, the combination of a casing having means at its upper end for attaching the-same to a tool string, a mandrel mounted in the casing for limited longitudi nal movement in the casing and capable of being d by the casing, saic mandrel having a tapered lower portion and a reduced necl: above the tapered portion whereby a supporting shoulder is formed, arcuate slips car "ied on thetapered portion of the mandrel and engaging over said shoulder, the tapered port-ion of said mandrel having eccentric faces operating to project theslips outwardly when a relative rotation occurs between the mandrel and the slips, the said casing and the slips having faces operating to engage when the casing is lowered with relation to the slips; to enable the casing to rotate the sli s, the lower end of the tapered portion of iid'mandrel having means for retaining the lower ends of the slips in any position they can assume, the lower end of said casing op erating to project over the upper ends of the slips for limiting their outward movement and retaining the same at their upper ends on the mandrel.

8. In a deep well tool, the combination of acasing having means at its upper end for attaching the same to a tool string, a mandrel mounted inthe casing for rotation and capable of limited relative longitudinal shifting movement in the casing, said mandrel having a tapered lower portion with slips carried on the same, the tapered portion of the mandrel having eccentric faces operating to project the slips-outwardly when a relative rotation occurs between the mandrel and the slips, said slips and said casing having faces operating to engage when the casing is shifting downwardly with respect to the slips to enable the casing to rotate the slips.

9. In a deep well tool, the combination of a casing having means at its upper end for attaching the same to a tool string, a mandrel mountedin the casing for rotation and capable of limited relative longitudinal shifting 7 down onto the slips to engage the slips and g movement in the casing, said mandrel having a tapered lower portion with slips carried on the same, the tapered portion of the mandrel-having eccentric faces operating to project the slips outwardly'when a relative rotation occurs between thevmandrel and the slips, the lower end of said casing and the upper end of said slips having interlocking means for effecting aconnection between them by a relative downward shifting movement of the casing, operating-to enable'the casing when lowered to engage the slips for rotating the same.

' 10. In a deep well tool, the combination of a casing having means at its upper end for attaching the same to a tool string, a mandrel mounted in the casing for rotation and capable of limited relative longitudinal move ment in the casing, said mandrel having a tapered lower portion, slips carried on the said tapered portion and having threads on their outer faces, the tapered portion of the mandrel having eccentric faces operating to project the slips outwardly when a relative rotation occurs between the mandrel and the slips, the thread on the slips having an op- V posite character with relation tothe eccen tric faces so that when the casing is moved rotate the same in an unscrewing direction as regards their own threads, the slips will move in the same relative direction that would permitthe slips tomove inwardly.

11. In a deep well tool, the combination of a casing having means at its upper end for attaching the same to a tool string, a mandrelmounted in the casing for rotation and capable of limited relative longitudinal movement in the casing, said mandrel having a tapered lower portion, slips carried on the same and having threads on their outer faces, the tapered portion of the mandrel having eccentric faces operating when the mandrel is rotated relative to the slips in an anti-clockwise direction, to project the slips outwardly, the

threads on the slips operating to advance the slips in a part engaged by the threads, by a rotation of the slips in a clockwise direction,

the relative longitudinal movement of the casing and the mandrel enabling the casing to engage the slips forrotating the same.

12. In a tool of the kind described, a slip having a lower portion of arcuate form and tapering in a circumferential direction, said slip having a collar at its upper end present ing a substantially horizontalouter face and having an inwardly projecting flange formiingla shoulder to support the slip on a man- Signed at Los Angeles, Calif, this 7th day of June, 1929.

'IDRIS THOMAS. 

